A big honor for a Boston legend on Wednesday. A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held for the completion of the new William Felton “Bill” Russell Bridge.
The Celtics superstar and civil rights activist’s name is now forever on the map in Boston.
“Today, we honor someone, Bill Russell, who simply made us better in every possible way,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said.
The crossing between Charlestown and the North End is now officially named the William Felton “Bill” Russell Bridge.
It was previously known as the North Washington Bridge and is located in the shadow of the TD Garden, where Russell achieved his status as one of the best athletes of all time.
“I’m also looking forward to telling my friends who are going to a Celtics game or a Bruins game or a concert, ‘Look for the Bill Russell. It’ll get you right where you need to go,'” Healey said.
Russell won 11 championships in 13 seasons, broke the color barrier in major U.S. sports as its first Black head coach and marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“When he stood up to racism, he stood up for civil rights for all of us. When he invested in businesses that served and uplifted the Black community, he made us better,” Healey said.
Russell died in 2022 at the age of 88.
His wife and family attended Wednesday’s ceremony, along with members of the Celtics organization, including new owner Bill Chisholm and some of the legends who played alongside Russell.
His impact reaches those who never saw him play.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu recalled her young son working on a school project about Russell, calling him his hero.
“He still has all of the Celtics gear, and to this day, I can still ask him questions about Bill Russell and he is the expert,” she said.
The $200 million construction project was a major upgrade. It will have the city’s first dedicated bus lane on a bridge as well as local landscaping. The Freedom Trail also runs over the structure, adding another layer to Boston’s rich history.